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Environmental Laws of Uganda

THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT (AUDIT) REGULATIONS 2009
These Regulations prohibit the carrying out of environment audits without due certification and registration, except if the person is an environmental inspector.
The Regulations also provide for the preparation of environmental audit reports; require owners or operators of facilities whose activities are likely to have a significant impact on the environment to establish environmental management systems; provide for enforcement environmental audits; and encourage voluntary environmental audits and compliance agreements to aid facility compliance to environmental requirements

THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT (MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR MANAGEMENT OF SOIL QUALITY) REGULATIONS

The purpose of these Regulations is: to establish and prescribe minimum soil quality standards to maintain, restore and enhance the inherent productivity of the soil in the long term; to establish minimum standards for the management of the quality of soil for specified agricultural practices;
to establish criteria and procedures for the measurement and determination of soil quality; and to issue measures and guidelines for soil management. The Regulations have six schedules which deal with all these aspects. The first schedule provides for soil quality parameters; the second schedule is on guidelines for management of fragile or peculiar soils; the third schedule provides for parameters and methods of determination of soil quality; the forth schedule is on soil conservation measures and guidelines; the fifth schedule provides for recommended frequency for monitoring of soil quality parameters for enforcement purpose; and the sixth schedule is on improvement notice.

THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT (MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR DISCHARGE OF EFFLUENTS INTO WATER OR LAND) REGULATIONS
These Regulations prohibit discharge of effluent or waste on land or into the aquatic environment contrary to established standards and without a waste discharge permit
. They provide for the general obligation to mitigate pollution by installation of antipollution equipment for the treatment of effluent and waste discharge emanating from an industry or establishment. They also provide for sampling of effluent and waste water analysis. .
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THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT (ACCESS TO GENETIC RESOURCES AND BENEFIT SHARING REGULATIONS 2005
These Regulations apply to access to genetic resources or parts of genetic resources, whether naturally occurring or naturalised, including genetic resources bred for or intended for commercial purposes within Uganda or for export, whether in in-situ conditions or ex-situ conditions.
They do not apply: to the exchange of genetic resources where the exchange is done by a local community among themselves and for their own consumption; or where the exchange is certified to be purely for food or other consumptive purposes as prescribed by the relevant laws. They also do not apply to the transit of genetic resources through Uganda; to access to genetic resources derived from plant breeders as defined by the laws relating to plant breeding and plant variety; to human genetic resources;
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THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT (MWETLANDS,RIVERSBANKS ANS LAKESHORES MANAGEMENT )REGULATIONS
These Regulations provide for the protection of wetlands; their conservation and wise use; inventorying of wetlands; and wetland use permits for regulated activities.
The Regulations also provide for protection zones for riverbanks and lakeshores. In particular, the rivers and lakes outlined in the sixth and seventh schedules to the Regulations have a protection zone of two hundred metres from the low water mark for lakes and one hundred meters from the highest water mark for rivers. Other lakes and rivers have a protection zone of one hundred metres from the low water mark for lakes and thirty metres from the highest water mark for rivers. No activity is permitted in the protection zone without the written authority of the executive director of the National Environment Management Authority.
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THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT (NOISE STANDARDS AND CONTROL) REGULATIONS
These Regulations aim at ensuring the maintenance of a healthy environment for all people in Uganda, the tranquility of their surroundings and their psychological well being by regulating noise levels;
and generally to elevate the standards of living of the people by prescribing acceptable noise levels for different facilities and activities. The Regulations prescribe the maximum permissible noise levels from a facility or activity to which a person may be exposed; provide for the control of noise; and provide for mitigating measures for the reduction of noise.

THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT IMPACT ASSESSEMENT REGULATIONS,1998
These Regulation deals with the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process, including project briefs and environmental impact studies
. The Regulation provide for EIA review processes, including invitation of general public comments and public hearings, and the decision of the Executive Director of the National Environment Management Authority in respect of the grant, rejection or cancellation of an EIA certificate.
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THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT ACT,1998
The National Environment Act is a framework law on environment and establishes the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) as the overall body, charged with the management of environmental issues and provides for sustainable management of the environment
The Authority in consultation with the lead agencies is empowered to issue guidelines and prescribe measures and standards for the management and conservation of natural resources and the environment. The Act provides for environmental monitoring and impact assessment; environmental audit; environmental restoration orders and improvement notices; environmental easements; environmental performance bonds; licensing and standard setting; use of economic and social incentives; civil and penal sanctions, including community service, among others. It establishes the Policy Committee on Environment; the National Environment Fund and a collaborative framework with lead agencies and other stakeholders in environmental management

THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT WATER ACT
The Water Act is one piece of Uganda's sectoral legislation with key provisions to enhance sustainable development. It provides for the use, protection and management of water use and supply
. Important aspects in the Act include water rights; planning for water use; control on the use of water resources; water easements; and control over water works and water use.
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THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT MINING ACT
.This Act vests the ownership and control of all minerals in Uganda in the Government and provides for the acquisition of mineral rights and other related rights.
The Act requires every holder of an exploration licence or a mining lease to carry out an EIA of their proposed operations in accordance with the provisions of the Environment Act. A holder of such permit is also required to carry out an annual environmental audit and to keep records describing how far the operations conform to the approved environmental impact assessment. The Act also provides for environmental protection standards, environmental restoration plans and environmental performance bonds in accordance with the Environment Act.

THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT FORESTRY AND TREE PLANTING ACT
This is an Act for the conservation, sustainable management and development of forests for the benefit of the people of Uganda. The Act establishes central forest reserves and other forest reserves.
. It provides for collaborative forest management, establishes a tree fund and provides for licences. It also provides for the EIA process for developments intended in forest reserves.

THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT WASTE MANAGEMENT REGULATION,1998
These Regulations apply to all categories of hazardous and non hazardous waste. They cover movement of hazardous waste into and out of Uganda, its storage and disposal.
. The Regulations also provide for conditional licensing of transportation of waste from one district to another. The Regulations prohibit the disposal of untreated waste into the environment. Any person intending of run a waste treatment facility may, after carrying out an EIA, apply for a license. In carrying out waste treatment, the operator of a waste treatment facility shall take all necessary measures to minimize or prevent pollution from site or plant.

THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT OZONE DEPLETION AND SUBATANCES PRODUCTS REGULATIONS
These Regulations aim to regulate the production, trade and use of controlled substances and products; provide for a system of data collection to facilitate compliance with relevant reporting requirements under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer;
promote the use of ozone friendly substances, products, equipments and technology; and ensure the elimination of substances and products that deplete the ozone layer. The various schedules provide for controlled products, controlled substances and prohibition dates; application for licenses to import controlled substances and export them; declaration by the end user of controlled substances or products; and the need for records to be maintained for controlled substances.

THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT HILLY AND MOUNTAINOUS AREAS REGULATIONS
These Regulations facilitate sustainable utilization and conservation of resources in mountainous and hilly area. They promote soil conservation and restrict the use of these areas.
They restrict cattle grazing, provide for the declaration of closed and open seasons, afforestation and reforestation, and prevent the introduction of alien or exotic species. The district councils are permitted to make bye laws for the protection of mountainous and hilly areas which are at risk of environmental degradation